This document provides directions for an easy walking route around Richmond, England that passes Easby Abbey and ends at Richmond Castle. It can be completed in a few hours with extra time to explore the Abbey and Castle. Driving directions are given from Middlesbrough and Stockton to a parking area in Richmond. The walking route is then described turn-by-turn through Richmond and along the river, passing the Drummer Boy Stone and Easby Abbey before arriving at Richmond Castle. Historical information about Easby Abbey and Richmond Castle is also included.

1. Richmond –
Easy Walk

2. An easy walk round Richmond which
passes by Easby Abbey and ends up
at the spectacular Richmond Castle -
Richmond itself is steep but this walk
avoids steep inclines until the very
end. The walk can be completed in a
few hours and extra time can be
spent exploring the Abbey and Castle.

3. Getting There
From Middlesbrough and Stockton
take the A66 to Darlington and then
follow the A1 to Scotch Corner. Then
look for the A1608 which will take you
to Richmond town centre.
There's ample parking spaces at the
Nuns Close car park which is situated
past the cricket club as you follow the
A1608 and turn right into Hurgill Road
signposted as a long stay car park.

4. Richmond walk route

5. Leave the car park and turn
right and then left to follow
the road you just drove down
until you reach the first
roundabout. At the
roundabout go straight ahead
down Ryders Wynd

6. At the bottom of Ryders Wynd
turn left then go right into Station
Road. Just past the church take a
left into Lombards Wynd.

7. Turn right at the next junction
and follow the track until you
eventually pass the Drummer
Boy Stone on your right.

8. Drummer Boy Stone
At the end of the18th century, the story
says, soldiers in Richmond Castle
discovered a tunnel that was thought to
lead to Easby Abbey. They sent their
drummer boy down it, beating his drum so
they could follow him from above ground.
His route is beside the river towards the
Abbey. At the spot now marked by the
Drummer Boy Stone, the drumming
stopped and he was never seen again.

9. You can now see the full
splendour of Easby Abbey to
your left. You can make a
detour here to explore the
Abbey through the gate to your
left.

11. In 1152 Roald, the Constable of
Richmond Castle, granted land to a
group of Premonstratensian canons
to build an abbey on the banks of
the River Swale, within sight of the
soaring towers of his castle. Roald
did not own the castle, but
administered it on behalf of his
patron, Conan, Earl of Richmond.
But Roald was certainly a wealthy
man, probably through marriage to
Garsia, widow of Enisan Murdac,
who held large estates around
Richmond after the Norman
Conquest.

12. The new abbey may not have been
the first religious foundation at
Easby; circumstantial evidence
suggets that there was a community
of priests here in the Saxon period,
perhaps associated with a minster
church. It is unusual that Roald chose
to establish a Premonstratensian
house, though.

13. Beyond the car park in the
Abbey turn right along the
track and follow the track with
the wall to your left to Love
Lane House.

14. Turn right over the old
railway bridge.

15. Follow the track bed for a
while until you come to The
Station. The Station is a
leisure and shopping
complex with its own
bakery, cinema, some
shops and a café. Ideal for
a pitstop!.

16. Turn left up the road and then
turn right into Priory Villas and
bear right to go in front of the
houses.

17. Go through three
waymarked gates keeping
parallel to the river. you
should have a great view of
Richmond Castle to your left.

18. Continue passing some playing
fields and a clubhouse. This will
then bring you onto a road- turn
left and go over Richmond
Bridge. Then look for the Castle
Hill turning to your left- this is
very steep and will take you to
the town square. From here you
can then enter Richmond Castle
and explore its remains.

20. After you have left
Richmond Castle make your
way back to the car park by
leaving the main town
square and ending up on
Ryders Wynd and re trace
your steps to the car park.